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EVERYDAY  ERRORS 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/everydayerrorsinOOpaynrich 


EVER  Y  13  A  Y 
ERRORS 

IN 

Pronunciation y  Spellingy  and 
Spoken  English 

BY 

GERTRUDE   PAYNE 

Teacher  of  Reading  and  Public  Speaking 

m  the  State  Normal  School 

San  Jose,  California 


SAN    FRANCISCO 

RICARDO    J.   OROZCO 

1911 


COPYRIGHT.  1911  BY 

RICARDO  J.  OROZCO 

SAN  FRANCISCO 


uv 


:AT«0N  DWPt 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Foreword 5  to    6 

Few  Vowel  Sounds 7 

Pronunciation 8  to  20 

Type-words 21  to  28 

Additional  Lists 28  to  31 

Spelling 32  to  37 

Rules  for  Spelling 38  to  39 

Spoken  English        .       .       .       .       .  40  to  48 


54^123 


^''Ars  est  celare  artem  —  true  art  consists  in 
hiding  art. ' ' 

To  do  things  right  without  apparent  effort  — 
to  be  conscious  of  pronouncing  words  cor- 
rectly and  of  speaking  correct  English,  without 
making  others  unpleasantly  conscious  of  the 
fact  —  that  were  **a  consummation  devoutly 
to  be  wished"! 

"Then  give  to  the  world  the  best  you  have, 
And  the  best  will  come  back  to  you." 


FOREWORD 


Most  of  the  errors  herein  corrected 
have  been  everyday  errors  in  my  own 
classes,  and  this  httle  book  is  designed 
for  the  use  of  my  students.  No  at- 
tempt has  been  made  to  compile  ex- 
haustive lists,  but  simply  to  give  prac- 
tical help  to  prospective  teachers.  To 
this  end,  pretty  full  explanations  have 
in  many  cases  been  given,  and  often 
the  wrong  form,  to  emphasize,  by  con- 
trast, the  right  form.  Words  that 
have  two  acceptable  pronunciations 
have  for  the  most  part  been  omitted 
from  the  lists;  and  to  avoid  repetition, 
words  that  appear  in  the  pronouncing 
list  have  been  omitted  from  the  spell- 
ing list.  Certain  words,  that  present 
a  problem  in  pronunciation  repeated  in 
many  words  of  the  same  class,  I  have 
called  type-words,  and  have  empha- 
sized each  by  following  it  with  a  special 
list  for  practice. 

From  the  multitude  of  ''Common 


EVERYDAY    ERRORS 


Errors/'  copiously  and  sufficiently 
treated  in  more  pretentious  publica- 
tions, I  have  endeavored  to  select  only 
those  which  have  actually  been  com- 
mon in  my  personal  work. 

For  reference,  and  authority,  I  have 
used  the  latest  editions  of  the  Inter- 
national and  Standard  Dictionaries, 
and  Phyfe's  12,000  Words  Often  Mis- 
pronounced. 

G.  P. 


San  Jose,  California, 
April,  1911. 


ERRAllA-:.:-,',  : 

Page  ,      " 

7 — In  the  Short  e:not6^  ]^o  feh;6,ul<i';b»^-, 
omitted.  '^*  >•..'...  >     -,•  ;  \  ; 

8 — admirable  should  have  short  a  in 

first  syllable. 
10 — before  should  have  accent  on  last 

syllable. 
'  'not  beneficent' '  should  read  '  'not 

be  mf  i  senf 
11 — daughter  for  pronunciation  should 

be  ter  not  ter. 
13 — gather  should  have  short  a. 
14 — hur  raw'  should  have  accent  and 

not  apostrophe. 
16 — probably  should  have  short  6, 
18 — tracts  should  have  short  a. 

trav'  el  er  the  v  was  omitted. 
19 — Westminster  the   accent  on  first 

syllable  was  omitted. 
23 — begrudge  should  not  have  hard  g  in 

the  pronunciation. 
24 — quietly  should  have  long  ^  in  first 

syllable. 
audience  the  last  e  should  not  be 

long  e. 

26 — music  should  have  accent  on  first 
syllable. 

27 — calamities  should  have  intermedi- 
ate a  in  first  syllable. 
shallow  should  be  shdlV  o  for  pro- 
nunciation. 

34 — kindergarten  the   accent  on  first 
syllable  was  omitted. 


FEW    VOWEL    SOUNDS 


A  FEW  VOWEL  SOUNDS  TO  Bli 
CAREFULLY  NOTED 


a,  long  a,  as  in  ate,  canary,  various 

a,  short  a,  as  in  at,  man,  and,  hand 

a,  Italian  a,  as  in  arm,  aunt,  laugh 

a,  intermediate  a,  as  in  ask,  chance, 
master.  This  also  * 'obscure  a^', 
found  in  end  syllables,  as  in  a  ca- 
ci  d,  and  in  other  unaccented  syl- 
lables 

a,  circumflex  a,  as  in  air,  chair,  fairy 

a,  hroad  a,  as  in  all,  daughter,  water 

The  intermediate -a  words  are  often- 
est  mispronounced,  and  the  hroad- a 
words  next 

Short  Cy  found  unsuspectedly  in  some 
syllables,  must  not  to  be  sounded  like 
long  a: 

America — a  mer'  i  ca 
cemetery — cem'  e  ter  y 
peremptory — per'  em  to  ry 
peruke — per  uke'  (or  per'  uke) 

Modified  6,  is  a  sound  between  short 
0  in  not  and  broad  o  in /or: 
God,  mock 

The  compound_  vowel  sounds:  u, 
equivalent  to  i-oo,  and  ow  equivalent 
to  a-oo: 

lute,  not  loot;  counsel,  not  consul 


PRONUNCIATION 


a — always  obscure;  never  long  a  in 

reading  or  speaking 
acacia — a  ka'  shi  a,     long    a     second 

syllable 
accept — ak  sept',  not  to  be  confused 

with  except 
acclimate — ak  kll'  mat,  accent  second 

syllable 
accompaniment — ak  kiim'  pa  ni  ment, 

five  syllables 
accurate — ak'  ku  rat,    type-word*   for 

* 'cutting   no   syllable   short  that 

should  be  sounded  distinctly,  and 

giving  every  vowel  its  true  value'' 
across — a  kros'  not  a  crost'.     This  6  is 

the    * 'happy    medium''    between 

short  6  in  not  and  broad  6  in  dr 
actor — ak'ter,  not  akt'or;  type-word'^ 
address — ad  dress',  always^  noun  and 

verb 
admirable — ad'mirabl,  type-word"^ 
Adonis — a  do'  nis,  not  a  don'  is 
adult — a  dult',  not  ad'  iilt 
aeriel — a  e'  ri  al,  not_  a'  ri  el 
again — a  gen'  not  a  gan';  so  a  genst' 
ague — a'  gu,  not  ag,  nor  a'  ger 
Alcott — air  kut,  not  al'  kot' 
alias — a'  li  as,  not  a  li'  as,  nor  al'  i  as 
ally — al  li',  both  noun  and  verb 

■'^Llsts  of  all  type-^words  follow  this  general  list 


PEONUNCIATION 


almond — a'mund,  not  aV  mund 

alpaca — al  pak'  a,  not  al  a  pak'  a 

alternate — al'ternat,  not  airternat; 
noun  and  adjective,  al  ter'nat 

America — a  mer'  i  ka;  not  a  ma'  ri  ki 

amiable — a  mi  a  bl,  four  syllables 

and — and,  short  a  and  sound  d 

anemone — anem'o  ne,  not''a,n  enemy'' 

angel — an' jel,  not  an' jul 

answer — an'  ser,  not  short  d 

any — en'  i,  not  *1n'y  nor  ''an'y"; 
the  same  with  many 

apparatus — ap  pa  ra'  tus,  not  rat'  us 

apricot — a'  pri  kot,  not  ap 

Arab — ar'  ab,  not  a'  rab 

archipelago — ar  ki  pel'  a  go,  not  arch 

architect— ar'  ki  tekt,  not  arch 

arctic — ark'  tic,  not  ar'tik 

arithmetic — arith'metik,?io^rith'untik 

Asia — a'  shi  a,  not  a'  zha 

asked — askt,  not  ast,  nor  ask,  which  is 
present  tense:  type-word*  for  inter- 
mediate d 

attacked — at  takt',  not  at  tak'  ted 

athlete — ath'  let,  not  ath'  a  let;  so  ath- 
let'  ik  and  ath  let'  iks 

audacious — aw  da'  shus 

auxiliary — awg  zil'  ya  ri 

Avon — a' von 

ay— I 

aye — a,  meaning  always;  i,  when  it 
means  yes 

babel— ba'  bel,  not  babble 
bacteria — bak  te'  ri  a  ;  type-word'^  for 
long  e  in  second  syllable 

*See  lists  of  all  type-njoords 


10 EVERYDAY    ERRORS 

bade — bad,  not  bad 
banana — ba  na'  na,  not  ban  an'  a 
banquet — bang'  qwet 
Baptist — bap'  tist,  not  bab'  tist 
been — bin,  not  ben  nor  ben 
before — be'  fore,    not  bu'  fore;   type- 
word^  for  long  e  in  first  syllable 
beginning — be  gin'  ing,  not  be  gen'  ing 
beloved — beluv'ed,    adjective  and 
noun;  the  participle  is  be  luvd' 
beneficent — be  nef'i  sent,.7^o^  be  nef- 

i  sent,  nor  ben  e  fish'  unt 
Bethlehem — beth'  le  hem,  not  ham 
biography — bl  og'  ra  fi,  not  bi  nor  he 
blackguard — blag'gard,  not  blak'gard 
Blackstone — blak'stun,  not  blak'stone' ; 

the  same  with  Glad'  stun 
bonnet — bonnet,  -y^o^bun'it 
bouquet — boo  ka',  not  bo'  ka';   a  very 

common  error! 
Bowdoin — bo'dn  (college) 
breeches — brich'  ez,  not  brech'  iz 
brethren — bretii'  ren,  not  bruth'  er  en 
brooch — broch,  not  brooch  _ 

broom — broom,  type-word*  for  long  oo 
Bryn-Mawr — brin  mar' (college  in  Pa.) 
burglar — burg'  lar,  not  burg'  u  lar 
buried — ber'  id,  not  bur'  id 

cannot — kan'  not,  not  kan  not' 

can't — kant,  not  kant 

catch — kach,  not  kech 

Caucasian — kaw  ka'  shan 

cemetery — sem'  e  ter  i,  not  sem'  e  tri, 
nor  sem'  e  ta'  ri;  type-word*  for  ac- 
cent only  on  first  syllable 

*See  list  of  type-nxjords 


PRONUNCIATION 11 

certain — ser'  tin,  not  ser'  t'n 

chastisement — chas'tiz  ment 

chauffeur — sho  fer' 

Chelsea — chel'se 

Chicago — shi  kaw'  go,  not  chi  ko'  go 

children — chil'dren,  not  chirdern 

choose — chooz,  not  chuz 

chorus — ko'  rus,  not  kor'  us 

civil — siv'  il,  not  siv'  1 

clothes — klothz,  not  kloz 

column — kor  um,  not  kbV  yum 

comely — kiim'  li,  not  kom'  li 

company — kum'  pa  ni,  not  kump'  ni, 
nor  kum'  pan  e ;  type-word*  for  fi- 
nal y  like  I 

conjure  (to  enchant) — kun' jer;  to  im- 
plore, kon  jure' 

consummate  (adjective)  kon  sum' mat 

cornet — kor'  net,  not  cor  net' 

cornucopia — kor  nu  ko'  pi  a 

corrupt — kor  rupt',  not  ko  rupt' 

council — kown'  sil, 

counsel — kown'  sel,  not  kon'  siSl 

countenance — kown'  te  nance,  not  con 

covetous — kuv'  et  us 

cranberry — kran'  ber  i,  not  kram 

creek — krek,  not  krik 

crept — krept;  sound  the  f,  and  the  same 
with  kept,  swept,  slept 

cupola — ku'  po  la,  not  ku'  pa  lo' 

daughter — daw'ter,  r^o^dot'er;   type- 

word*  for  broad  a  sounds 
draught — draft 
decade — dek'  ade,  not  de  kad' 
defect — de  fekt',  not  de'  fekt 

*See  list  of  type-njoords 


12 EVERYDAY    ERROBS 

deficit —  def  i  sit,  not  de  fis'  it 
Dickens's — dick'  ens  ez;  pronounce  the 

's  as  separate  syllable.  Type-word"^ 

for  possessive  singular  of  manj 

proper  names  ending  in  s 
didactic — did  ak'  tik,  not  dl'  dak'  tick 

type-word"^  for  short  I  in  first  syl 

lable 
discourse — dis  kors',  not  dis'  kors 
dissertation — dis'er  ta'shun;  not  des 
doth — duth,  not  doth 
duel — du'  el,  not  doo'  ul;  type-word"^  foi 

long  u,  pronounced  like  %-oo 
Edinburgh — ed'  in  bur  o,    not  ed'in- 

burg 
efficient — ef  fish'  ent,  not  e  fish'  iint 
either — e'  ther,    better  usage    than 

i  ther;  and  the  same  with  neither 
eleven — e  lev'  n,  not  u'lev'n,  nor  lev'i 
elm — elm,  noteVmn 
elocution — el  o  ku'  shun,  not  el  e  ku' 

shun 
emblem — em'  blem,  not  em'  blum ;  pro6 

lem  and  Jerusalem,  also 
enemies — en'e  miz,  not  en'e  mez;  type 

word  for  ies  pronounced  like  Iz 
English — ing'  glish,  not  eng'  glish 
enthusiasm — en  thu'  zi  azm,  not  izm 
equipage — ek'  wi  paj 
err — er,  not  ar 
every — ev'  er  i,  not  ev'  ri,  unless  con 

tracted  to  ev'  ry 
evil — e' vl,  tio^e'vil,  except  in  chant 

ing  or  intoning 
exquisite — eks'  kwiz  it,  not  eks  kwiz'  i 
extant — eks'  tant,  not  eks  tant' 

*See  list  of  type-ivords 


PRONUNCIATION 13.a 

facet — fas'  et,  not  fa'  set 

far — far,  not  fur;  so  farther 

fear — f er,  not  fir;  so  with  tears,  beard, 

cheerful,  here,  hear,  etc. 
February — feb'ru  a  ri;  not  feb'u  ari 
fifth— fifth,  not  fift 
figure — fig  yer,  not  fig  ger 
finance — fi  nance';  soft  nan  shdl 
for — for,  not  fur,  not  fore 
forge — forj,  not  forj 
fountain — f own' tin,  not  fownVn;  the 

same  with  mountain 
fragrant — fra'  grant,  not  frag'  runt 
from — from,  not  frum 
frontier — fron'  ter,  not  frun  ter' 
frontispiece — front'  is  pes 

gather — gath'  er,  not  geth'  er 
genuine — jen'  yuin,  not  jen'  u  ine' 
geography — je  og'  ra  fi,  not  jar'  gra  fy 
geometry — je  om'  e  tri,  not  jom'  e  tri 
God — god;  not  god  nor  gawd,  but  the 

* 'golden  mean'' 
gondola — gon'  do  la,  nx)t  gon  do'  la 
governor — guv'  er  ner,  not  guv'  ner 
granary — gran'  a  ri,  not  gran'  er  i 
grievous — grev'  us,  not  grev'  i  us 
guests — gests  not  guess;  sound  final 

consonants;  type-word*  for  s-t-s 

harem — ha'  rem 

harassed — har'  ast 

heigh-ho — hi'  ho,  not  ha'  ho 

height — hite 

Hemans — hem'  anz,  not  he'  manz 

humble — hum'  bl,  not  um'  bl 

*See  list  of  type-^words 


14 EVERYDAY    ERRORS 

humor — hu'  mer,  better  than  yu  mer 
hundred — hun'  dred,  not  hun'  derd 
hurrah — hoo  ra',  not  hur  raw' 
hyacinth — hi'  a  sinth,  not  hi'  a  sint 
hydrangea — hi  dran'  je  a 
hypocrisy — hi  pok'  ri  si 

ice  cream — Is'  krem 
idea — I  de'  a,  not  i  dea,  nor  i  dee' 
ideal — I  de'  al,  not  \  de  al 
ignoramus — ig  no  ra'  mus 
illustrate — il  lus'  trat,  not  il'  lus  trat 
influence — in'  flu  ence,  not  in  flu'  ence 
inherent — in  he'  rent,  not  in  har'  ent 
inquiry — in  kwi'  ri,  not  in'  kwi  ri    _ 
introduce — in  tro  duce',  not  in  ter  doos' 
instead — in  sted',  not  in  stid' 
interest — in'  ter  est,  accent  first  syl- 
lable only,  but  not  slight  others; 
the  same  with  In  ter  est  ed  and 
m  ter  est  mg 
irreparable — ir  rep'  a  ra  bl 
irrevocable — ir  rev'  o  ka  bl 
Italian — i  tal'  yan;  so  I  tdV  Ik 
itinerary — i  tin'  er  a  ri  not  i  tin'  er  i 

January — jan'  yu  a  ri,  not  jen 
jaundice — jon'  dis  not  jawn'  dis 
just — just,  not  jest  nor  jist 

Kearney — kar'  ni,  not  ker'  ni 
khaki — ka'  ke,  not  kak'  i  ^ 
kimono — ke  mo'  no,  not  kim  o'  na 

label — la'  bel,  not  la'  bl 
Latin — lat'  in,  not  lat'  n 

*See  list  of  type-njjords 


PRONUNCIATION 15 

laureate — law'  re  ate 

lest — lest,  not  least 

level — lev'  el,  not  lev'  1 

long-lived — long'-llvd,  not  long-livd' 

lower — low'  er  (to  threaten),  not  lo'  er; 

low  as  in  allow 
lyceum — ll  se'um 

maintenance — man'  ten  ance 

mankind — man  kind' 

Mary — ma'  ri,  not  mar'  ri,  nor  mur'  ri; 

but  mar'  i  gold 
measure — mezh'yer,  not  maz'ure;  so 

with  pleasure  and  treasure 
mineralogy — min  er  al'  o  ji,   not  61;  so 

gen  e  al'o  ji 
minute — min' it,  not  min'ut 
miracle — mir'  a  kl,  not  ma'  ri  kl 
mischievous — mis'  che  vus,  not  mis  che' 

vus,  nor  mis  che'  vi  us 
miserere — miz  ere' re  __ 

Missouri — mis  soo'  ri,  not  miz  zoo'  ri 
mistletoe — miz'  1  to,  not  mis'  1  to 
model — mod'  el,  not  mod'  1 
museum — mu  ze'  um 

naked — na'  ked  not  nek'  id 
neuralgia — nu  ral'  ji  a,  not  nu  ral'  i  ji 
newspaper — nuz'  pa  per,  not  nooz 
Niagara — nl  ag'  a  ra;  four  syllables; 

often  misspelled 
nobody — no'  bod' i,  not  no'  bud  i;  so  any- 
body, everybody,  somebody 

object — ob' jekt,  not  jikt;  so  subject 

of — ov,  not  uv 

often — of  n,  not  of  ten,  nor  awf  ten 


16 EVERYDAY    ERBORS 

oppressed — op  prest',  not  o'  prest' 
ordeal — or'  de  al,  not  or  de'  al 
or — or,  not  are 
our — owr,  not  are 

pantomime — pan' to  mim,  not  min;  this 

word  very  often  mispronounced 
partition — par  ti'  shun,  not  pe  ti'  shun 
partner — part'  ner,  not  pard'  ner 
partridge — par'  trij,  not  pat'  rij 
pencil — pen'  sil,  not  pen'  sul 
perhaps — per  haps',  not  pre'  haps,  nor 

praps 
periodic^pe  ri  6d'  ik,  not  pir,  nor  par; 

the  same  with  period 
perspiration — per  spi  ra'shun,  not  pres 
pianist — pi  an'  ist,  not  pe'  an  ist 
pillow — pil'lo,   not  pil'u;  type-word"^ 
plague — plag,  not  pleg 
poem — po'  em,  not  pom,  nor  po'  um;  so 

po'  et  and  po'  et  ri 
poinsettia — poin  set'  i  a,  not  poin  set'  a 
possess — poz  zes',  not  po  zes'. 
precedence — pre  se'  dence,  always 
precedent — pres'  e  dent;  pre  se'  dent 

when  an  adjective 
Presbyterian — prez  bi  te'  ri  an,  not  tir 
presentation — prez  en  ta'  shun  ^ 
presumptuous — pre  zumpt  yu  us 
pretence — pre  tence' 
pretty — prit'  i,  not  pret'  i,  nor  pur'  ti 
probably — prob^  a  bli,  not  prob'  u  li 
program — pro'  gram,  not  pro'  grum 
promiscuous — pr5  mis'  ku  us 
pronunciation — pro  nun  si  a'  shun 
prophesy — prof  e  si;  (verb) 

*See  list  of  type-nxjords 


PRONUNCIATION 17 

pumpkin — pump'  kin,  not  pung'  kin 

put — poot,  no^put 

quaff — kwaf,  not  kwaf  nor  kwaf 

quarrel — kwor'  el,  not  kwarl 

qui  vive — ke  weV  not  kwe  vev' 

quoted — kwo'ted,  not  coat'ed;  the 
same  with  quotation 

really — re'  al  li,  not  re  li 

recess — re  ses',  not  re'  ses 

recognize — rek'  og  niz 

record — (noun)  rek'erd,  -^o^  rek' ord 

recourse — re  kors' 

research — re  serch' 

resource — re  sors' 

reveille — re  val'ya;  in  U.  S.  Army,  rev- 
ale' 

rid — rid,  not  red;  get  rid,  not  ''git  red'' 

ridiculous — rid  ik'yu  lus,  not  re  dik'u  lus 

rinse — rince,  not  rence 

risk — risk,  not  resk 

robust — ro  bust'  not  vo  bust 

roil — roil,  not  rll;  so  hoil 

romance — ro  mance',  not  yo_  mance 

Roosevelt — roz'  velt,  not  rdos'  velt 

rostrum — ros'  triim,  not  ro'  strum 

sacrifice — sak'rif  iz;  noun  and  verb; 
some  authorities  give  last  syl- 
lable Is 

sacrilegious — sak  rile' jus;  almost  al- 
ways pronounced  llj'  its 

sagacious — sa  ga'  shus 

saith — seth,  not  sa'  ith 

sarsaparilla — sar  sa  pa  ril'  a,  five  syl- 
^  lables;  not  sas  pril'  a 

satin — sat' in,  not  sat'  n 

scared — skard,  not  skart 

second — sek'  und,  not  sek'  unt 


18 EVERYDAY    EBRORS 

secretary — sek'  re  ta  ri,  not  sek'  e  ta  ri 

sha'n't — shant,  not  shant 

shew — sho;  no  longer  shu.  This  and 
froward  often  mispronounced  in 
Bible  reading 

similar — sim'  i  lar,  not  sim'  u  lur 

since — not  sence 

sixth — siksth,  not  sixt 

solace — sol'  as,  not  so'  las 

solemn — sol'  em,  not  sol'  um 

spirit — spir'  it,  not  spirt,  sperret,  nor 
spir'  ut 

stamp — stamp  (with  the  feet),  not 
stomp 

steady  —  sted'  i,  not  stid'i 

stint — stint  (a  task),  not  stent 

subtle — sut'l;  subtile,  the  same;  or  per- 
haps better,  sub' til 

suburb — sub'  urb,  not  su'burb 

sudden — sud'  en,  not_sud'n 

supple — sup'  1  not  soo'  pi,  nor  s66'  pi 

surprise — stir  prlz',  not  sup  priz' 

syrup — sir 'up,  notswc'w^;  spelled  sir- 
up,  and  pronounced  the  same 

the — the  before  vowel  sounds;  other- 
wise thu 

theatre — the'  a  ter,  not  the  a'  ter 

tiny — tl'  ni,  not  te  ni,  nor  tin  i 

to — too  before  vowel  sounds;  to  eat,  etc. 

together — too  geth'er,  not  too  gath'er 

toward — to' erd,  not  toward';  so 
towards 

tracts — tracts  not  tracks 

travel — trav'el,  not  trav'l;  and  tra'  el- 
er,  not  trav'  ler 

traverse — trav'  ers,  nx)t  tra  vers' 

tremendous — tre  men'  dus,  not  jus 


PEONUNCIATION 19 

trespass — tres'pas,  not  tres  pas',  ex- 
cept in  chanting 
truths — truths,  not  truthz 
Tuesday — tuz'  da,  not  tooz'  di 

umbrella — um  brel'  la;  not  um  ber  el'  a 
unaccented — un  ak  sent'  ed,  not  un- 

ak'  sent  id 
unto — un'  too,  not  un  too',  nor  on'  too; 

also  into  should  be  in'too,  not  in  too' 
usage — yu'zaj,  not  yus'ij 
usually — yu'zhu  al  i,  not  yu'zhal  i 
usurp — yu  zurp' ,  not  yu  surp' 

vagary — va  ga'  ri,  not  va'  ga  ri 

vanquish — vang'  kwish,  ?io^  van'  kwish 

vaudeville — vod'  vil 

vehement — ve'  he  ment 

Venezuela — ven  ez  we'  la,  not  ven  zu- 

e'la 
vessel — ves'  sel,  not  ves'  1 
volume — vol'  yum,  not  vol'  yum 

wander — won'  der,  not  wiin'  der;  and 

won'  der  ing,  not  wond'  ring 
wanted — wawnt'  ed,  not  wond' 
was — woz,  not  wuz 
water — waw'  ter,  not  wot'  er 
well — wel,  not  wal,  nor  wool 
were — wer,  not  ware 
Westminster — west  min'ster,  not  west- 

min'  is  ter 
wharf — hwarf,  not  warf ;  type-word"^ 
wistaria — wis  ta'  ri  a,  not  wes  te'  ri  a 
with — with  (prep.),  not  with;  the  th 
must  be  vocalized 

*See  list  of  type-njoords 


20 


EVEEYDAY    ERRORS 


wonder — wiinder,  not  wan'  der 
wont — wunt;  but  won't  is  wont 
Worcester — woos'  ter ;   commonly 

woos'  ter 
wrath — rath,  not  rath 

Xantippe — zan  tip'  e 

yacht — yot,  nx)t  yat 

yonder — yon'  der,    not  yen'  der,  nor 

yun  der 
youths — yooths,  not  yoothz 

zoology — zo  51'  o  ji,  not  zoo  61'  o  ji 


"^  TYPE-WORDS 


*'Give  every  vowel  its  true  value": 

accurate — ak'  yu  rat 
bakery — ba'  ker  i 
botany — bot'  an  i 

complimentary — kom  pli  men'  ta  ri 
considerable — kon  sid'  er  a  bl 
correctly — kor  rekt'  li 
different — dif  fer  ent 
elementary — el  e  men'  ta  ri 
gallery — gal'  er  i 
generally — jen'  er  al  i 
heliotrope — he'  li  o  trop 
history — his'  to  ri 
honorable — on'  er  a  bl 
laboratory — lab'  o  ra  to  ri 
laudanum — law'  da  num 
library — ll'  bra  ri 
mackerel — mak'  er  el 
memory — mem'  o  ri 
mercury — mer'  ku  ri 
mystery — mis'  ter  i 
parliamentary — par  li  men'  ta  ri 
participle — part'  i  si  pi 
rhetoric — ret'  o  rik 
temperament — tem'  per  a  ment 
valuable — val'  yu  a  bl 
variegate — va'  ri  e  gat 
veterinary — vet'  er  in  a  ri 
victory — vik'  to  ri 


22 EVERYDAY    ERBORS 

Final  or  like  er: 

actor — ak'  ter 
curator — ku  ra'  ter 
creditor— kred'  it  er 
debtor — det'  er 
educator — ed'  u  ka  ter 
error — er'  er 
factor — f  ak'  ter 
legislator — lej '  is  la  ter 
metaphor — met'  a  f er 
proprietor — pro  pri'  e  ter 
respirator — res'  pir  a  ter 
solicitor — so  lis'  i  ter 
testator — tes'  ta  ter 

a6Ze- words  accented  on  first  syllable: 

admirable — ad'  mir  a  bl 
applicable — ap'  pli  ka  bl 
comparable — kom'  pa  ra  bl 
despicable — des'  pik  a  bl 
explicable — ex'  plik  a  bl 
formidable — for'  mid  a  bl 
hospitable — hos'  pit  a  bl 
lamentable — lam'  en  ta  bl 

Intermediate-d  words: 


asked  not  askt 

nas'ty 

blast  not  blast 

pass 

cast  not  kast 

past 

class  not  klas 

task 

ghastly  not  gast'  le 

vast 

glass  not  glas 

dance 

grass  not  gras 

chance 

last  not  last 

advance 

master -^0^  master 

after 

mast  not  mast 

France 

TYPE-WORDS  23 


Long  e  in  second  syllable 

bacteria — bak  te'  ri  a 
criterion — kri  te'  ri  un 
deteriorate — de  te'  ri  er  at 
experience — ex  pe'  ri  ence 
interior — in  te'  ri  er 
material — ma  te'  ri  al 
superior — su  pe'  ri  er 


Long  he  in  first  syllable 

because — be  kawz',  not  bu  kuz' 
before — be  for',  not  bu  for' 
begrudge — be  grug' 
behind — be  hind',  not  bu  hind' 
behold — be  hold'  not  bu  hold' 
believe — be  lev^  not  blev' 
belong — be  long',  not  blong 
beneath — be  neth' 
beware — be  war' 


Long  sound  of  oo 

broom,  izo^J^room,  not  brum 

food,  not  food 

foolish,  not  fool'  ish 

noon,  not  noon,  nor  nun 

poor,  not  pore 

roof,  not  roof,  nor  riif 

room,  not  room,  nor  rum 

root,  not  root,  common  error ! 

spoon,  not  spoon  nor  spun 

soon,  not  soon  very  common  error 

woof,  not  woof 


24 EYEBYDAY    ERRORS 

Words  of  several  syllables,  accented 
only  on  the  first. — But  one  should 
give  all  the  syllables  their  full 
value,  unless  one  is  English,  and 
naturally  slights   some  syllables: 

cemetery — sem'  e  ter  i 
dictionary — dik'  shun  a  ri 
dysentery — dis'  en  ter  i 
monastery — mon'  as  ter  i 
ordinary — or'  din  a  ri 
stationery — sta'  shun  er  i 


Final  y  like  ^,  not  like  e 

company — kiim'  pa  ni 
enemy — en'  e  mi 
jollity— jol'  i  ti 
literally — lit'  er  al  li 
merrily — mer'  ri  li 
novelty — nov'  el  ti 
penalty — pen'  al  ti 
quietly — kwi'  et  li 


Broad-a  sounds.— This  is  a  very  im- 
portant list: 

auction — awk'  shun 
audience — aw'  di  ence 
autobiography— aw  to  bi  og'  ra  fi 
autumn — aw  tum 
broad — brawd 
brought — brawt 
caught — kawt 
daub— dawb 


TYPE-WORDS  25 


fault — fawlt,  not  f51t 

haughty — haw'  ti 

naught — nawt;  so  with  naw'  ti 

ought — awt;  aught,  the  same 

sought — sawt 

talk — tawk 

taught — tawt,  not  toil 

thought — tha  wt 

wrought — rawt,  not  rot! 

Possessive  singular  of  proper  names 
ending  in  s.     Good  use  seems  to 
favor  adding  both  the  apostrophe 
and  s: 
Cross's  ''Life  of  George  Eliot '^ 
Dickens's  *'Dombey  and  Son'' 
Hemans's   ''Landing  of  the    Pilgrim 

Fathers'' 
Holmes's  ''Guardian  Angel" 
Keats' s  "Endymion" 

Short  ^  in  last  syllable: 

April — a'pril,  not  a' prul 
civil — siv'  il,  not  siv'  ul 
Philip — fir  ip,  not  fil'  up 
pilgrim — pil'  grim,  not  pil'  grum 
turnip — tur'  nip,  not  turn'  up 
victim — vik'  tim,  not  vik'  tum 
vigil — vij'  il,  not  vij'  ul 

Short  I  in  middle  syllable: 

attitude — at'  i  tud,  not  at'  u  tood 
California — kal  i  for'  ni  a,  not  kal  a 
irrigate— ir'  ri  gat,  not  ir'  ru  gat 
justify — jus'  ti  fl 
universe — yu'  ni  vers 


26 EVERYDAY    EREORS 

pessimist — pes'  si  mist 
matinee — mat  i  na'  _ 

solitude — sol'  i  tud,  not  sol'  u  tood 
ludicrous — lu'  di  krus 
possible — pos'  si  bl 

Short  ^  in  first  syllable 

didactic — did  ak'  tik 
digestion — di  jes'  chun 
digression — di  gresh'  un 
diploma — di  plo'  ma 
director — di  rek'ter 
diverge — div  erj' 
diversion — div  er'  shun 
divert — di  vert' 
minute — mi  nut' 

Long  Uy  like  I' -do 

absolute — ab'  so  lut,  not  loot 

culinary — ku'  li  na  ri 

due — du;  and  du/ty 

Luke — luk  not  look 

music — mu  zik 

nude — nud 

numerous — nu'mer  us 

pseudo — su'  do 

pursue — per  su'  _ 

student — stu'  dent  ?io^_stoodent 

stupid — stu'  pid  not  stoopid 

suit — sut 

tube — tub 

tulip — tu'lip 

tumult — tu'  mult_ 

tune — tun,  not  toon 

tutor — tu'  ter 


TYPE-WORDS                          27 

Also: 

dew 

renew 

jew 

slew 

knew 

view 

few 

chew 

hew 

flew 

mew 

clew 

Words  ending  in  ies,  pronounced 
like  Iz: 

enemies — en'emiz 
calamities — ka  lam'  i  tiz 
injuries — in' ju  riz 
parodies — par'  o  diz 
perplexities — per  plex'  i  tiz 
capabilities — ka  pa  bil'  i  tiz 
deficiencies — de  fish'  en  siz 

Sound  final  sts: 

guests — gests,  not  guess 

nests,  not  nes  blasts 

priests,  not  pres  hosts 

protests,  not  pro  tes'  artists 

ghosts,  not  gos  forests 

wrists,  not  ris  harvests 

posts,  not  pos  Romanists 

resists,  not  re  zis'  tourists 

ow  not  to  sound  like  il: 

pillow — pil'  lo  swallow 

yellow — yel'  lo  willow 

fellow — f  el '  lo  widow 

window — win'  do  mellow 

shallow — shad/o  hollow 

to-morrow — too  mor'  ro  bellow 


28 EVERYDAY    ERROBS 

Also  words  ending  in  o: 

potato,  not  pu  ta'  ii  Colorado 

tomato,  not  tu  ma'  ta        Ohio 
mosquito,  ?io^moske'tu    piano 

wh  pronounced  like  hw: 

wharf — hwarf,  not  warf 
what — hwot,  not  wot, 
when — hwen,  not  wen 
where — hwar,  not  wear 
white — hwit,  not  wight 
whisper — hwisper,  not  wis'  per 
whittle — hwit'  1,  not  wit'  1 
whig — hwig,  not  wig 
while — hwll,  not  wile 
whether — hweth'  er,  not  weather 
whack — hwack,  not  wack 
whither — hwither,  not  wither 
why — hwi,  not  y 

THE  FOLLOWING  LISTS  SHOULD 
ALSO  BE  STUDIED 

shr  not  to  be  like  sr: 

shred,  not  sred 
shrew,  not  sroo,  but  shru 
shriek,  not  srek 
shrimp,  not  srimp 
shrink,  not  srink 
shrivel,  not  sriv'  1 
shroud,  not  sroud 
shrub,  not  srub 
shrug,  not  srug 
shrunken,  not  srunk'  n 


ADDITIONAL    LISTS ?9 

Do  not  pronounce  ed  like  id  or  ud', 
nor  eth  like  ith  or  i^^/^ ; 

proceedecJ  lead?^/^ 

educatgc?  restore^/t 

resulted  heWeYeth 

saluted  aske^/^ 

toasted!  comg^/^ 

visited  seeke^/^ 

waitecJ  findeit/^ 

Do  not  pronounce  ness  like  ntss ;  nor 
less  like  i'iss : 

good'^&s  helpi&s 


righteousiigss 

merciless 

foolish'^ess 

sleepZess 

frankness 

hopeZess 

highTtess 

lifeless 

kindTtess 

nerveless 

mad'^^ess 

restless 

Do  not  pronounce  ent  like  unt — this 
e  is  what  may  be  called  an  obscure 
short  e;  it  has  not  the  full  value  of 
e  in  met: 

attachment  moment 

government  announcement 

commandment  commencement 

president  commitment 

management  regent 

opponent  banishment 

Do  not  pronounce  es  like  iz,  but 
like  ez: 

bridges — bridg'  ez,  not  bridg'  iz 
ashes  ditches 

dishes  dredges 


30 EVERYDAY    EERORS 

Do  not  pronounce  est  like  ist,  nor  et 
like  it — the  e  is  obscure: 

dearest,  not  dear'  ist 

basket,  not  bas'  kit 

bucket 

earnest 

fairest 

honest 

purest 

sweetest 

quiet 

casket 

Do  not  pronounce  ing  like  in : 

singing,  not  sing'  in 
something,  not  sum'  thin 
swinging,  not  swing'  in 
sewing,  not  so'  in 
drawing,  not  draw'  in 
thinking,  not  think'  in 

Be  careful  to  sound  final  consonants, 
particularly  d,  and  nd 

had,  not  say ''hat  to''  for  had  to 

landlord,  not  Ian'  lord 

thousand,  not  thouz'  n 

used,  not  yust 

friendship,  not  fren'  ship 

windpipe,  not  win'  pip 

handshake 

kindness 

rind 

sand-pile 

errand 


ADDITIONAL    LISTS 31 

Be  careful  not  to  blend,  that  is  to 
lap  a  final  letter,  or  sound,  over  on 
the  next  word.  This  occurs  most 
frequently  with  words  ending  in 
t  or  d,  followed  by  the  pronoun 
you: 

''Let  no^  your  heart,''  not  chure 
'''Tis  time  to  star^,    you  know,''  not 

chew 
''I  would  have  told  you,'^  not  tol  jew 
''Men  shall  persecute  7/o^6" 
"As  I  have  loved  you'^ 


SPELLING 


Syllabication  is  very  important  as  an 
aid  to  correct  spelling,  and  should  re- 
ceive much  more  attention  than  it  does. 

accidentally — ac  ci  dent'  al  ly;  five  syl- 
lables 

accommodate — ac  com'  mo  date;  two 
c's,  two  m's 

affect — affect';  not  to  be  confused 
with  effect 

affiliate — af  fil'  i  ate;  one  I 

alcohol — al'  co  hoi 

all  right — two  words;  not  alright 

allusion — al  lu'  sion;  not  to   be    con- 
fused with  illusion 

altogether — al  to  geth'  er;  not  to   be 
confused  with  all  together 

annual — an'  nu  al;  two  n'^ 

anonymous — a  non'  y  mous 

appetite — ap'  pe  tite;  two  p's 

appropriate — ap  pro'  pri  ate 

bachelor — bach'  e  lor 

battalion — bat  tal'  ion;  two  f^s,  one  I 

benefited — ben'  e  fit  ed;  one  t 

bilious — bil'  ious;  one  I 

Britain — Brit'  ain;  a-i-n,  and  one  t 

bureau — bu'  reau 

business — busi'  ness  (biz'  ness) 


SPELLING  33 


calendar — cal'  en  dar 

canvas — can'  vas,  a  coarse  cloth 

canvass — can'  vass,  to  solicit 

capital — cap'  i  tal,  city 
Capitol — Cap'  i  tol;  building 
Caribbean — Car  ib  be' an;  one  r,  two  6's 
chaparral — chap  ar  ral';  two  r's 
chaperon — chap'  er  on;  better  without 

the  e 
Christian — Chris'  tian,  i-a-n 
Cincinnati — Cin  cin  na'ti,  two  n's,  one  i 
college — col'  lege;  no  d  in  the  word 
connoisseur — con  nois  seur' 
conscientious — con  sci  en'  tious 
convenience — con  ven'  ience 
correspondent — cor  re  spond'  ent 
courageous — cou  ra'  geous 
currant — cur'  rant,  fruit 
current — cur'  rent,  in  stream 

delicious — de  li'  cious 

description — de  scrip'  tion;  not  dis 

dessert — des  serf 

development — de  vel'  op  ment;  no  e 

after  ^ 
disappointment — dis  ap  point'  ment, 

one  s,  two  p's;  appointment 

with  the  prefix  dis 

ecstasy — ec'  sta  sy 
effective — ef  feet'  ive;  not  af 
embarrassing — em  bar'  rass  ing;  two 

r's,  two  s's 
emigrate — em'  i  grate,  to  go  out  of  a 

country 
English— Eng  lish;  never  with  small  e 
erysipelas — er  y  sip'  e  las 


34 EVERYDAY    ERRORS 

exhilarate — ex  hil'  a  rate  (egz  il') 

facsimile — fae  sim'  i  le 

Fahrenheit — Fah'  ren  heit 

fascinate — fas'  ci  nate 

Filipino — Fil  i  pi'  no;  the  feminine 
ends  with  a 

flannel — flan'  nel;  two  -^^s,  one  I 

forty  "four — for'  ty-four;  all  these 
words  from  twenty-one  to  ninety- 
nine  are  hyphen  words 

gauge — a  before  u 

Gibraltar — Gi  bral'  tar,  not  ter 

grammar — gram'  mar,  not  e-r 

hallelujah — hal  le  lu'  jah,  or  iah 
hemorrhage — hem'  or  rhage 
hygiene  — hy'  gi  ene 

Iliad — ir  1  ad;  one  Z 

immigrate — im'  mi  grate,  tocomem^o 

a  country 
incandescent — in  can  des'  cent 
initiation — in  i  ti  a'  tion 
inflammation — in  flam  ma'  tion 
judgment — judg  ment;  better  without 

the  e 

kindergarten — kin  der  gar'  ten,  not 
garden 

labyrinth — lab'  y  rinth 

led — past  tense  of  lead 

loose — not  bound;  or  to  unbind 

lose — to  mislay  (one's  book  or  purse) 

mademoiselle — mad  em  oi  selle' 


SPELLING  35 


Manila — Ma  nil'  a;  one  I  for  city 
mantel — man'  tel  (shelf) 
melancholy — mel'  an  chol  y 
moccasin — moc'  ca  sin 
misspelled — mis  spell';  spell  and  pre- 
fix mis 
mucilage — mu'  cil  age 

naphtha — naph'  tha 
necessarily — nee  es  sa'  ri  ly 
nickel — not  nickle 
noticeable — no'  tice  a  ble;  retain  e 
nuisance — nui'  sance 

occasionally — oc  ca'  sion  al  ly;  two 

c's,  one  s 
Oklahoma — Ok  la  ho'  ma 
omniscience — om  nis'  cience  (nish) 
opportunity — op  por  tu'  ni  ty 
origin — or'  i  gin 

parallel — par'  al  lei 

paralysis — pa  ral'  y  sis 

parliamentary — par  lia  men'  ta  ry 

paroxysm — par'  ox  ysm 

peaceable — peace'  a  ble 

pedler — ped'  ler;  or  lar,  or  peddler 

permanent — perm'  a  nent 

personnel — per  son  nel' 

Philippines — Phil'  ip  pines;  one  I,  two 
p's 

pleasant — pleas'  ant 

postponement — post  pone'  ment 

preceding — pre  ced'  ing;  one  e  in  sec- 
ond syllable 

prejudice — prej'  u  dice 

prevalent — prev'  a  lent 

primitive — prim'  i  tive 


36 EVERYDAY    ERRORS 

principal — prin'  ci  pal,  noun  and  ad- 
jective 
principle — prin'ci  pie,  noun  ;rareZ?/ verb 
privilege — priv'  i  lege;  no  a  in  the  word 
proceeding — pro  ceed'  ing;  two  e's 
professor — pro  fes'  sor;  one/,  two  s's 
promissory — prom'  is  so  ry 
psychical — psy'  chic  al 
psychological — psy  cho  log'  ic  al 

quandary — quan'  da  ry 
quarantine — quar'  an  tine 
querulous — quer'  u  lous 
queue — ku  (Chinaman's  braid) 

recommend — rec  om  mend',  one  c, 

two  m's 
remember — re  mem'  ber 
reminiscence — rem  i  nis'cence 
resurrection — res  ur  rec'  tion 
resuscitate — re  sus'  ci  tate 
rhapsody — rhap'  so  dy 
rhythm — one  syllable 

schedule — sched'  ule 

separate — sep'  a  rate 

singeing — singe'  ing 

souvenir — sou  ve  nir' 

speech — no  a 

spring — small  s,  unless  personified; 

the  same  with  all  the  seasons 
statue — Stat'  ue,  a  plastic  figure 
stature — stat'  ure,  natural  height  of 

man 
statute — stat'  ute,  a  law^ 
supercilious — su  per  cil'  i  ous 
surely — sure'  ly 
suspicious — sus  pi'  cious 


SPELLING  37 


Thackeray — Thack'  er  ay;  e-r,  a-y 

thoroughly — thor'  ough  ly 

tongue — not  tounge 

tragedy — trag  e  dy 

trousseau — trous  seau' 

truly — tru'  ly 

twelfth — no  v  in  the  word 

to,  prep.;  too,  adv, ;  two,  adj. 

tyranny — tyr'  an  ny,  two  9^'s 

usually — us'  u  al  ly 
until — un  til';  one  I 

vaccinate — vac'  ci  nate;  two  c's,  one  n 
vacillating — vac'  il  late;  one  c,  two  Ts 
Valenciennes — Va  len  ci  ennes' 
variegate — va'  ri  e  gate 
ventilate — ven'  ti  late;  one  I 
village — vil'  lage;  not  to  be  confused 

with  carrtage  and  marrtage 
villain — vil'  lain;  a-i-n 
vinegar — vin'  e  gar 

Wednesday — Wednes'  day  (wens) 
Wellesley — Welles'  ley 
West — capital  TT  when  part  of  country; 
the  same  with  East,  North,  South 
women — wom'  en  (wim'  en) 

Yokohama — Yo  ko  ha'  ma;  not  to  be 
confused  with  Oklahoma 

A  very  common  error  in  writing  is 
the  omission  of  the  apostrophe,  and 
the  misplacing  of  it  for  the  plural  pos- 
sessive: ''four  years  work  in  English'' 
— or  ''three  year's  work  in  Latin; ''/<^''^ 
four  years'  work,  and  three  years'  work. 


RULES  FOR  SPELLING 


At  least  two  of  the  most  common 
rules  for  spelling  should  be  learned — 
the  Rule  for  Doubling^  and  a  general 
Final-e  Rule  —  and  made  use  of  in 
everyday  spelling. 

RULE  FOR  DOUBLING 

Monosyllables  and  words  accented 
on  the  last  syllable,  when  they  end 
with  a  single  consonant  preceded  by  a 
single  vowel,  double  their  final  letter 
before  a  suflSx  beginning  with  a  vowel. 

Monosyllables: 

plan — planned 
rob — rob6ed 
sin — sinmng 
sum — summed 
trot — trotting 

Words  accented  on  last  syllable: 

begin — beginmng 
demur — demurrer 
occur — occurred 
prefer — preferring 
refer — referred 


RULES    FOR    SPELLING 39 

FINAL-E  RULE 

.  Final  ^  of  a  primitive  word  is  dropped 
before  a  suffix  beginning  with  a  vowel; 
retained  before  a  suffix  beginning  with 
a  consonant. 

Dropped: 

come — coming 
pure — purity 
tame — tamable 
write — writing 

Retained: 

care — careful 
large — largely 
one — oneness 
stale — staleness 

The  e-i  and  i-e  words  should  be 
'^learned  by  heart. ''  This  old  rhyme 
may  be  a  help: 

*'It  is  '^  before  e, 
Except  after  c; 
Or  when  sounded  like  a 
As  in  neighbor  and  weigh. ' ' 


^  before  e^^ 

''e  before  V 

believe 

conceive 

grieve 

deceive 

niece 
relieve 

perceive 
receive 

siege 

receipt 

sieve 

seize 

wield 

weird 

SPOKEN  ENGLISH 


Aggravate,  for  exasperate.      Say 

'*I  was  so  exasperated/^  or  'Vexed/' 
not  aggravated — unless  you  mean  that 
you  were  made  to  weigh  more! 

Balance,  for  remainder,   or  rest. 

Not  ''The  balance  of  the  class/'  or  of 
the  time;  say,  rather,  the  remainder 
of  the  class — and  the  rest  of  the  time. 

Case  constructions.  The  most  in- 
sidious errors  are:  The  objective  in- 
stead of  the  possessive  before  verbal 
nouns;  as,  "There  is  no  use  of  me  go- 
ing, ' '  for  my  going.  Nominative  after 
verbs  or  prepositions  when  the  objec- 
tive is  required;  as,  "She  invited  sister 
and  I  to  go,''  or  "The  invitation  was 
for  sister  and  /."  It  should  be  me  in 
both  instances.  ' '  Between  you  and  /' ' 
is  a  common  error.  And  beware  of 
this  construction:  "A  person  whom 
I  thought  was  going  to  do  well." 
Whom,  subject  of  was  going,  should  of 
course  be  who,  in  the  nominative  case. 

Considerable  is  an  adjective,  and 
should  not  be  used  for  the  adverb  con- 
siderably. Not  "It  has  helped  me 
considerable/'  but  considerably. 

Different  should  be  followed  by 
from,   and   not  by   to  or  than.     Not 


SPOKEN    ENGLISH 41 

''This  work  is  different  than  I  thought 
it  would  be/'  but  different /rom  what 
I  expected. 

Each,  every  and  any,  when  followed 
by  one  or  hody,  prove  troublesome 
often.  Not  ''Every  one  of  them  are 
of  the  400''— but  is.  The  same  with 
either  and  neither;  they  should  be  fol- 
lowed by  singular  verbs. 

Expect,  which  means  to  look  for- 
ward to,  should  not  be  used  in  speak- 
ing of  present  or  past  events.  Not  "I 
expect  I  do  walk  badly,"  nor  "I  ex- 
pect you  had  a  good  time."  Say  sup- 
pose, or  suspect 

Fine  better  not  be  used  as  an  ad- 
verb. Not  "I  like  it  fine.''  And  do 
not  answer  "How  are  you?"  with  "I 
Sim  fine.''  ("Let  another  man  praise 
thee,"  etc!) 

From,  for  with.  Not  "I  took  Latin 
from  Miss  S,"  but  with.  Or,  "I 
studied  Latin  under  Miss  S." 

Get  to  go;  "I  did  not  get  to  go"  is 

an  inelegant  way  of  saying  "I  was 
unable  to  attend;"  or  "I  could  not 
go." 

Graduate,  referring  to  persons,  is 
better  used  in  the  passive  voice.  ' '  He 
was  graduated  from  Harvard."  A 
person  cannot  graduate  himself,  so 
why  say  "I  graduated  in  1910?"    He 


42 EYEEYDAY    ERROES 

must  be  graduated,   by   Faculty  and 
Board  of  Trustees. 

Guess,  for  think,  is  a  very  common 
error:  ''I  guess  I  shall  have  to  refer 
to  my  book, ' '  f  or  ' '  I  think  I  shall, ' '  etc. 

Hope,  which  looks  always  to  the 
future,  should  not  be  used  in  such  ex- 
pressions as  ''I  hope  I  do  find  it,''  or 
'*I  hope  he  doesn't  forget."  Say  *'I 
hope  I  shall  find  it;''  and  ''I  hope  he 
will  not  forget." 

If  for  whether.     Not   **I  do  not 

know  if  I  know  my  lines  or  not,"  but 
''whether  I  know,"  etc. 

Incidence,  not  to  be  confused  with 
instance  or  incident.  Not  '  1  want  to 
tell  you  of  a  little  incidence  that  hap- 
pened," hut  incident  Or,  ''I  will  tell 
an  instance  of  that  kind." 

Infinitive, — split  or  cleft  infinitive. 
This  much  discussed  construction 
seems  to  be  growing  in  favor,  but 
still  it  is  awkward  in  most  cases 
of  everyday  speech.  * '  I  have  not  been 
able  to  really  understand  this  work" 
— say  ''really  to  understand."  "I 
have  tried  always  to  be  on  time"  is 
better  than  ''I  have  tried  to  always  be 
on  time." 

Less  *for  fewer;  Not  "Less  than 
fifty  persons  came,"  hut  fewer. 


SPOKEN    ENGLISH 43 

Lie  and  Lay,  Try  to  distinguish 
between  these  much  misused  verbs. 
Not  *'He  laid  down  and  slep/'  but  lay 
down  and  slept.  Not  ''The  books  are 
laying  on  the  table/'  but  lying  there. 

Like  as  a  conjunction.  Not  ''Walk 
just  like  I  do/'  but  as.  You  may  say 
"He  talks  like  a  parrot,"  but  not 
"like  a  parrot  does/'  Also,  "I  feel 
like  I  can't  sit  up"  and  "It  looks  like 
it  is  going  to  rain"  are  distressingly 
common  errors.     Say  as  if  I 

Most  for  almost.  Not  ''Most  every 
time  I  recite  I  make  that  mistake," 
but  almost.  (This  is  a  very  common 
error) . 

Much  better  not  be  omitted  after 
too  or  very  in  such  expressions  as  "I 
was  too  excited  to  listen,"  or  "The 
car  was  very  croivded.''  Say  "too 
much  excited,"  etc. 

Myself  should  not  be  used  in  the 
nominative  case  as  subject  of  verb. 
Not.  "My  cousin  and  myself  went  to 
the  play,"  but  "My  cousin  and  /." 

Nicely  is  popularly  misused.  * '  How 
do  you  do?"  ''Nicely,  thank  you" 
—or  just  "Nicely.''     Better  say  Well! 

Ones  can  usually  be  avoided. 
"These  flowers  are  fresher  than  the 
ones  I  brought  yesterday, ' '  Say  ' '  than 
those  I  brought." 


44 EVERYDAY    ERRORS 

Only  is  often  misplaced.  It  is  safe 
to  place  only^  immediately  before  the 
word  it  modifies.  Not  ''I  have  only 
been  here  a  few  days/'  but  *'been 
here  only  a  few  days/'  *'I  shall  only 
stay  till  recess"  should  be  ''I  shall 
stay  only  till  recess.'' 

Plural  verb  when  speaking  of  a  book 
the  title  of  which  is  plural.  Not  *'Are 
Gulliver's  Travels  in?"  and  '* Where 
are  Finley's  American  BirdsV\  but 
use  is  in  each  case. 

Quite,  meaning  wholly,  entirely, 
should  not  be  used  when  a  little  is 
meant.  Not  ''Quite  a  ways,"  but  a 
little  way,  or  some  distance.  Say  way, 
also,  and  not  waySy  in  the  singular, 
with  a. 

Raise  and  rise  must  not  be  confused. 
Make  the  distinction  between  transi- 
tive and  intransitive,  the  same  as  with 
lay  and  lie.  Not  ''Raise  on  your 
toes,"  but  rise.  And  ''raise  your 
hand." 

Real  as  an  adverb.  One  of  the  late 
dictionaries  gives  real  as  an  adverb, 
but  such  expressions  as  *'Have  a  real 
good  time,"  are  inelegant.  Very  no 
doubt  is  overworked,  but  we  are  safe 
in  using  it.  Be  real  and  be  brave,  but 
not  ''real  brave"! 

Respectfully  and  respectively.  Be 

careful  not  to  interchange  and  mis- 


SPOKEN    ENGLISH 45 

use  these  words:  Not  *' Yours  respec- 
tively,''  and  ''They  were  graduated  in 
the  years  1907  and  1909  respectfully,^^ 
but  vice  versa. 

Shall  and  will  need  not  give  so 
much  trouble  as  they  do.  Just  use 
shall  for  simple  futurity:  Not  ''I 
wonH  need  my  rubbers/'  and  ''I  wonH 
be  able  to  come  to-morrow/'  but 
sha^nH,  And  when  asked  if  you  will 
bring  a  book,  don't  say  ''Yes,  I  shall, 
but  will.  Then  do  not  say  to  any  one 
of  whom  you  do  not  wish  to  ask  the 
favor, ' '  Will  you  be  here  after  school  ? ' ' 
Say,  rather,  ''Shall  you  he''  etc.  And 
do  not  say  "I  shall  now  read,"  as  shall 
must  have  futurity.  Will  expresses, 
or  may  express,  wish,  intention,  or 
willingness,  and  it  is  better  to  say 
"I  wUl  read  from" — or  "I  will  read 
the"— etc. 

Some   for  somewhat,  or  a  little. 

Not  "He  is  some  better,"  but  some- 
what better.  And  "I  play  a  little,'^ 
not  "I  play  some.'' 

So  not  as,  in  negative  comparisons. 
"This  is  not  nearly  so  long  as  I  ex- 
pected" is  better  than  "This  is  not 
near  as  long. ' ' 

Start  in  for  begin  or  commence. 

"  If  I  start  in  to  tell  you ' '  would  better 
be  "  If  I  begin ' '  etc.  ' '  I  started  in  to  go 
to  school. '  'Say  '  '1 6e^a^togotoschool, " 
or  "I  commenced  going  to  school." 


46 EVERYDAY    ERBORS 

Those  kind  and  these   kind,  for 

that  and  this  kind,  or  those  and  these 
kinds,  seem  almost  too  common  errors 
to  be  mentioned  here. 

Try  and  not  to  be  used  for  try  to. 
''I  will  try  to  be  here  early/'  not  '^I 
will  try  and  come/' 

Verbs  in  present  tense  used  for  past. 
Perhaps  the  most  grievous  errors  are 
in  the  use  of  begin,  come,  run,  and  see. 
Not  *  'And  then  I  begin  to  see  he  was 
gaining  on  me/'  but  ''I  began  to  see" 
etc.  And  ''when  I  come  upstairs  you 
had  gone  home/' should  be  "when  I 
came/^  "Then  I  run  as  fast  as  I 
could" — instead  of  "I  ran  as  fast" 
etc.  "But  I  see  him  coming  before  I 
reached  the  top"  for  "I  saw  him  com- 
ing." These  serious  errors  occur  most 
frequently  in  offhand  speaking,  and  in 
reporting  what  took  place  in  past 
time. 

We,  as  object  of  preposition.  Not 
"Several  of  we  girls  went  on  the  ex- 
cursion," but  "Several  of  us  girls." 

Well,  when  beginning  to  speak. 
Do  not  habitually  preface  your  remarks 
with  "Well— or  still  worse,  "Wool"  or 
"Wur';nor  with  "Say;"  nor  with  the 
popular  but  ill-timed  "Listen"! 

Without,  as  a  conjunction.  Not  "I 
can't  talk  without  you  all  keep  still  and 
listen/'  but  ''unless  you  keep  still." 


SPOKEN    ENGLISH 47 

You  Avas  is  always  wrong.  Say 
''Were  you  there?''  And  ''You  were 
here  early.'' 

Finally,  reversing  the  usual  order, 
the  worst  has  been  saved  for  the  last ! 

I  says 

It  don't 

There's  four  mistakes 

Any  person  can  correct  them  if 
they  try 

These  are  among  the  most  serious 
errors  in  our  spoken  English  to-day. 

I  says,  occurs  most  often  in  story- 
telling, or  in  otherwise  reporting 
things  that  happened  in  past  time. 
Not  ''And  then  she  says  'Who's 
here?'  and  I  says,  'Tim. ' "  Use  said. 
He  says,  to  represent  past  time,  and 
they  says,  are  equally  bad. 

We  need  only  to  expand  the  contrac- 
tion don't  to  be  convinced  that  he 
don't,  she  don't,  that  don't  are  as  bad 
as  it  don't.     Use  doesn't. 

Think  of  what  is  to  follow,  when 
you  begin  a  sentence  with  There  is — 
whether  a  singular  or  a  plural  subject. 
Say  "There  were  four  mistakes, "  not 
"There  was  four,"  etc. 

Any  person — if  they  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  common  error  of  all.  Some  day 
we  may  have  a  new  pronoun,  in  the 
common  gender,  to  use  in  such  sen- 
tences— thon,  or  some  more  euphon- 
ious word — but  until  we  do  have  it  we 
must  take  care  in  the  use  of  those  we 
have.  It  seems  simple,  and  easy 
enough,  to  think  to  follow  person,  or 


48 


EVERYDAY    EREORS 


any  other  singular  antecedent,  by  a 
singular  pronoun  to  represent  it — he, 
or  he  or  she;  but  preferably  he. 

If  anybody  has  the  book  will  he  bring 
it  to  the  desk  ? 

Every  one  must  do  his  best ! 

Any  person  can  correct  the  everyday 
errors  herewith  concluded  if  he  or  she 
will  try ! 


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